San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg was selected the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week yesterday by Collegiate Baseball magazine for last week's 23-strikeout performance against Utah.

Strasburg also was named Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week after breaking school and conference strikeout marks. John Hemmerly had the SDSU record with 18 in 1988. SDSU's Marcos Mendoza held the MWC record with 17 in 2001.

Strasburg allowed just one hit, a sixth-inning single, and struck out 16 of the game's final 17 batters. He struck out the side in the first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings and struck out two batters in every other inning. The Aztecs won the game 1-0.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound sophomore from West Hills High was moved into the rotation this season after serving as SDSU's closer a year ago. Strasburg primarily relied on his slider and fastball to frustrate the Utes, who came into the game as the top-hitting team in the MWC.

“I've been really successful with my slider lately,” Strasburg said after the game. “I've been able to locate it out of the zone and get them to chase. My fastball has also been better controlwise.”

Strasburg is 4-1 with a 1.97 ERA, 73 strikeouts and eight walks in 50 1/3 innings.